Family Supports
Information, Resource and Referral Services
- Regional Centers for CYSHCN (0-21 years) Wisconsin has five Regional Centers dedicated to supporting families with children and youth with special health care needs and the providers who serve them. The Centers are staffed by specialists who can help get answers, find services and connect you to community resources. Their services are free and private.
- Wisconsin First Step Information and referral hotline for children and adolescents age birth to age 21 with special needs.
- Aging and Disability Resource Centers (18+ years)
- Family Voices of Wisconsin Family Voices of Wisconsin is a statewide network of families of children and youth with special health care needs and/or disabilities and those who work on their behalf. We support families through education, training and leadership opportunities so that families can be effective and informed navigators of their child's system of care. Family Voices of Wisconsin also works to inform and educate health care providers, local, state and national policy makers and administrators about issues that affect children and youth with special health care needs.
- WI Family Center for Education, Training and Support (WI FACETS) Wisconsin Family Assistance Center for Education, Training & Support, Inc. (WI FACETS) is a nonprofit organization serving Wisconsin children and adults with disabilities, their families and those who support them.
- Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin ASSEW's mission is to support people with autism spectrum disorders, their families, professionals, and others, by sharing information, supporting research, providing networking opportunities and promoting awareness through education and training.
Service Coordinators and teams
- Wisconsin's Birth to 3 is Wisconsin's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.
- The Family Support Program provides individual services and supports to families that include a child with severe disabilities. The Program recognizes that meeting the needs of children who have severe disabilities may place hardships on a family's emotional, physical and financial resources.
- The Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) waiver program recognizes that many individuals at risk of being placed in these facilities can be cared for in their homes and communities, preserving their independence and ties to family and friends at a cost no higher than that of institutional care.
Family to Family Supports
- Wisconsin Family Ties Northwoods Family Fun Day on April 11 for families who have children with disabilities living in Oneida, Forest, Vilas, Florence, Sawyer, Iron, Price, Ashland & Bayfield Counties.
- Parent to Parent of Wisconsin provides one-on-one support to parents of children with special needs through their parent matching program.
- Respite Care might be available fromt UCP, Respite Care Wisconsin, and/or Easter Seals and you might be able to utilize money for the Children';s Long-Term Support waiver or Family Support.
Childcare
Legal Assistance - if you might have questions around guardianship, health benefits and your rights.
Summer Camps and Sibshops - contact your Regional Center, Autism Society Chapter, Easter Seals or utilize your local resources.
Don’t forget—family, friends and neighbors can be your strongest support!
Learning/Training Opportunities - you can check out the Training section of the Connections Website.
Examples of Family to Family Resources
- Family Voices of Wisconsin (health focus, training, advocacy, parent leadership)
- Parent to Parent of Wisconsin (matches parent to trained parent mentors)
- WI FACETS (education focus, advocacy, parent leadership)
- Wisconsin Family Ties
- Autism Society of Wisconsin (education, advocacy, children and youth activities)
- There are many other condition-specific organizations that can help you connect with other parents including cerebral palsy, down syndrome, epilepsy, etc.
- There are also many support groups—some specific to autism and other more generally for CYSHCN.
- Contact your Regional Center for CYSHCN and they can help you find what you are looking for.